La Niña, a climate pattern that can affect weather worldwide, has officially arrived.

La Niña is fueled by colder-than-normal Pacific ocean temperatures, which then affect the pattern of the Pacific jet steam. It’s the cooler counter to El Niño, which involves warmer-than-normal ocean waters. Both are part of a weather system called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

La Niña conditions emerged in September, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said on Thursday. They’re expected to continue through the end of the year, and potentially until February 2026.

This La Niña is expected to remain weak, weather experts said, but it could still affect the winter, and even the hurricane season.

What does La Niña mean for winter weather?

During La Niña, cold waters push

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